By 1985, Financo had completed over 140 transactions and had become the preeminent advisor to retail, apparel and other merchandising companies.

In 1985, Financo was acquired by Lehman Brothers, then a subsidiary of The American Express Company. Mr. Harrison became Chairman of the new Lehman Middle Market Group and assumed additional senior positions at Lehman that included Managing Director, Chairman of the Merchandising Group, and member of the Investment Bank Operating Committee.

In 1989, Mr. Harrison resolved that upholding his vision of an entrepreneurial culture required full independence. To accomplish this goal, he re-acquired the Financo name and re-established the firm in New York as an independent boutique investment banking firm. Since the re-acquisition, the firm has maintained its focus while expanding its range of services beyond traditional mergers and acquisitions to include private placements, restructuring, direct investments, consulting and other services related to the merchandising industry.